About

£30,907

pledged of £15,000 goal

1,557

backers

There aren't enough superlatives to thank all our backers in the manner that they deserve, suffice to say that they made this Kickstarter a success - they are not backers they are philanthropists, or anthropomorphosists!

If you have just found this Kickstarter page, you can order a retail version of oddball Aeronauts on the maverick:muse website.

2 Player

15-20 minutes

Ages 9yrs and beyond!

The deck is divided into the 2 factions, players take a faction each in hand, then shuffle and play - no surface required! It would probably make it even easier if you read the rules or watched one of the video reviews below first!

Gameplay - Briefly: oddball Aeronauts is a light strategy, fast card game. Pick a Skill. Decide how many cards to play. Compare with your opponent to determine the result. Use special abilities to swing things your way where you can. You win the game when your opponent has discarded all their cards. What could be simpler? It ain't rocket science! Well, actually there is an argument for that possibility!

"A more telling testament was my youngest asking to play [oddball Aeronauts] the next day, rather than rushing off to play the latest video game he and his buddies are into." - Norman Hunter, 'Big Game' reviews

To get a real feel for the gameplay, check out Rahdo Runs Through gameplay overview video -

If you want to try the game for yourself with our black and white, 54 card prototype Print & Play beta, then be our guest - http://goo.gl/41TYpA

“oddball Aeronauts is a fun and light game with a quick pace. Easily portable, it would make for a great road trip game.“ - Derek Weller, ‘i heart print and play’ preview

Play-in-the-hand - Anywhere! Because oddball Aeronauts doesn't require a surface to play on it can literally be played anywhere! On a train, in the school yard, in a convention queue, in the college library (get back to your books you!), between gaming sessions - these are all very good and highly commendable places and circumstances for playing the game.

What's in the Box?

In the Pilot Set you will get 81x cards: 2x core Faction decks of 24x cards, 6x Event cards and 27x deck-crafting cards. Plus you get the rules and a Leading Player Token.

Simply shuffle the core Faction decks, add in some Events and play.

When you've got a feel for the game you can start using the deck-crafting cards which are just sat there waiting for you to customise your factions.

The Purpose - The purpose of this project is to deliver a copy of the oddball Aeronauts Pilot Set right into your hands so you can start playing as soon as possible.

The Goal - The goal is to raise the funds to see the game through to completion, this includes getting it produced and shipping it out to you so you can get your sticky mitts on it.

The Plan - Like the game, it's simple. We've created the game and thoroughly play-tested it. We've created the world for the game and produced the majority of the artwork:

The card art is entirely unique to oddball Aeronauts. The core cards are almost complete and the remaining artwork is being done in-house by the same artist - Ash.

We have the manufacturing quotes, we've worked out our shipping costs, and we have worked out exactly how to fulfil all pledge levels and stretch goals with a solid timeline that results in . . . . .

Projected Fulfilment Date - August 2014 for the Pilot Set.

Name the Crew

We want you to name card characters - approximately every two weeks we'll offer up a Pirate, Pendragon crew or Officer and ask you for name suggestions. At the end of the submission period we'll use one of the suggestions to name the character in question, then the name will appear on the card. Alongside this we will run a 'flash story' with the chosen name and character/s involved. You can find examples of previously chosen names and flash stories on our site here: http://themaverickmuse.com/oddball-aeronauts/oddball-tales/

Look out for the chance to name the 2x Pilot Set Captains - only backers will have this opportunity.

"once you get familiar with how the cards work, it becomes a fascinating game." - Jonathan H. Liu, 'Geekdad' Review

"I've played this game with kids, I've played this game with adults, everybody loves this game. An actual, honest to god, travel card game because you don't need a surface to play it. oddball Aeronauts is fantastic." - Tiffany Ralph, 'The One Tar' video review

"Wow, what a very, very cool game this is. I can't really think of anything bad to say about this game at all. Absolutely blown away." - Richard Ham, 'Rahdo Runs Through' video review

"oddball Aeronauts packs a lot of fun and strategy…This is a great play-it-anywhere game and yes, it doesn't need a table so, just go play it already!" - Jeremiah, Theology of Games review

"Okay I will admit I was a skeptic. I just couldn't imagine how it would work. Now I know, and I really dig it. oddball Aeronauts managed to pull off the game you play "in hand" brilliantly." - Moe Tousignant, 'Windsor Gaming Resource' review

"This is perhaps the ultimate travel game. I'm planning for it to be an essential traveling companion from now on." - Andrew, 'i Slay the Dragon' review

"in my opinion the price they have for it is a downright steal for the amount of game you get out of this . . . . . the biggest compliment I can give the game is the fact that, because of the fact that I have desperately wanted to play this and I have annoyed my wife incessantly with making her play with me speaks volumes about just how awesome this tiny little game is." - Lance Myxter, 'Undead Viking' video review

"Don't be lulled into a false sense of simplicity. oddball Aeronauts packs a punch load of strategy in a little box" - Rick Royal, 'Box of Delights' video review.

"the features that provided the most air-pumping and cries of ‘Yesss!’ were the Tricks. It’s fast and furious and the closest you’ll get to swashing your buckle without getting arrested!" - Andy Robb, author of the 'Geekhood' books

"Throw in the ability to customise your decks and future planned expansions and you have the makings of a fast-paced yet deep strategy game." - Christopher Brimmer, 'Noobsource' preview

"this [oddball Aeronauts] is a revelation for me. I really think this is going to be one of my favourite games of the year...I know it's going to be one of my most played games of the year...I highly, highly recommend oddball Aeronauts." - Hunter, 'Weaponsgrade Channel' video review

Custom Cards - The reward levels above Pilot give you the opportunity to own your own custom cards. With these levels, among other things, you'll get to name your own ship and captain. This is in addition to the Pilot Set.

PLUS as an Ace Pilot you'll also get the Aeronauts Sketchbook PDF which features the development art for the oddball Aeronauts Pilot Set (see 'Extra Stuff' further down).

AND your Captain's names will be entered into the Aeronaut Halls of Fame.

ROGUE Rewards

The main reward at this level is a custom Faction deck for the one faction of your choice: Pirate or Pendragon. This works as follows:

1. Choose which Airship you want from the Rogue Ships Gallery. The gallery has six Airship art variants to choose from in total, 3x Pirate and 3x Pendragon: the Airships that appear on the Pilot Set faction cards and 2x alternatives for each faction.

2. Name your Airship!

The custom Airship art and name appears on the back of all 33 cards for the faction of your choice.

PLUS as a Rogue Pilot you'll also get the 6x alternative Rogues Gallery Captain cards.

PLUS you get the ACE PILOT rewards where we ensure that your Ace Pilot Captain card has the Airship + the name you have chosen at this level on its reverse .

ROGUE RIVALS Rewards

The reward at this level is the same as for the Rogue Pilot pledge level except you get to choose Airship art from the Rogue Ships Gallery for both the Pirate and Pendragon factions = 66x cards (33x Pirate and 33x Pendragon) with the ship art and names of your choice on their backs.

Also, both your ACE PILOT Captains will have your chosen Airship art and names on their backs.

Exclusive ROGUE RIVALS Add-On: add £25 to your pledge total if you would like an additional 1x custom Rogue Deck of 33x cards. This can be with different Airship & Captain art and names.

HERO Rewards

If you pledge at the HERO level for a custom Captain card we'll make you a one-of-a-kind card with original artwork based on your choices of character type, gear, attire etc., You will also receive the original A5 sized sketch of your Captain.

These are limited to a few backers only: if you want your very own one-of-a-kind unique-to-you no-one-else-will-have-one oddball Aeronaut Captain, you'll need to get in early.

HERO RIVALS Rewards

You get the same rewards as for the HERO level but for both Factions.

LEGEND Rewards

This is how you can get your own original one-of-a-kind Airship art for your Pirate or Pendragon faction deck:

You choose the class of Airship from a selection and Ash will sketch an original ship in that class. Based on your feedback Ash will tweak it and then take it to final colour art. We then send you your original faction deck with your unique airship art and your chosen ship's name on all 33x card backs for that faction. You will also receive the original A5 sized sketch of your airship.

As this level is limited to only a very few backers pledge early to avoid being disappointed.

the 'Field Guide for a Stranded Pilot' PDF

All backers at the £5 AUXILIARY PILOT level (and above) will be getting this handy little digital Field Guide.

It features things, and stuff, not necessarily related to the game's cards and instead serves to give dubiously useful advice to adventurous pilots who find themselves wandering around the oddball Realms - the world of the game.

Stretch Goal: We'll add in more pages if we get a larger number of backers than needed to fund. Keep an eye on our updates for this NOT VERY SECRET information.

the 'Aeronauts sketchbook' PDF

This digital sketchbook will be available to any backer who pledges at the £25 ACE PILOT level or above, as part of the level's rewards.

This PDF sketchbook will feature the concept sketches that were taken to final colour art for the Pilot Set's core faction cards. There'll be notes included with the art and a couple of mini tales.

Stretch Goal: Just like the Field Guide, the Aeronauts Sketchbook PDF will be expanded if we get a larger amount of backers beyond those needed to hit our funding target. We'll add the inked images alongside crew, officer and bot sketches as well as example breakdowns of the art process. Keep an eye on our Updates for details.

Add Ons - Extra Sets & The FLGS Patron

Fancy a three player duel? Yes there are rules for this, so If you'd like an extra Pilot Set just add the following to your pledge:

+£12 (a 20% discount) - worldwide shipping included

If you would like an extra two copies of the Pilot Set add the following to your pledge:

+£20 (a 33% discount) - worldwide shipping included

Support both oddball Aeronauts and your FLGS. Donate a copy of oddball Aeronauts to your FLGS for demonstration purposes. Nominate a store to us and we'll ensure they receive a copy of the full game.

+£15 (worldwide shipping included)

Future Musings

It has been very difficult whilst developing obA not to come up with a bajillion ideas for other games. One amongst those has stood out - an oddball Adventure Game where 2 to 6 players adventure in the oddball Realms.

But clearly this is future project which we'll be developing quietly in the background whilst bringing out the inevitable expansions to oddball Aeronauts - new factions, more cards to customise the existing factions, and deck rigging.

We'll also be calling on you to contribute flash stories and character ideas, so look out for more information on the oddball Realms appearing on our website.

Risks and challenges

In 2008 we successfully self-published the War for Edath game. Using everything we learned from publishing that game (good and bad) we will use our experience to launch this Kickstarter project, along with further wisdom learned through researching the Kickstarter platform and observing (even backing) other projects.

We've factored in a buffer for unforeseen circumstances: printing set-backs, sea-monster attacks and the like. So we have a few weeks grace - if we need it - in there.

NB: The custom cards will be started only after the standard Pilot Set art has been completed. These may be shipped separately but as soon as they are printed and ready they are on their way to you.

We've kept the project focused and streamlined in order to ensure fulfilment runs smoothly, i.e. you get your game lickety-split.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £101 or more
About $132

CUSTODIAN - an original A5 signed sketch featuring development art for one of the cards (the sketch will be chosen at random). Plus your ROGUE RIVALS deck (66 cards) shipped early with the other cards that will be in the oddball Aeronauts game so that you can play months before anyone else. Plus 1 hour via Google+ or Skype with the designer of oddball Aeronauts, Nigel Pyne, and if you beat him in a game of oddball Aeronauts you will receive a "Loot Card" - Read 'Update 9' for full details